We’ve had a rather stressful week here. This house selling business is intense, isn’t it? I have to stop and remind myself that I can and should dwell on other topics than the most stressful one I can think of.
While we’ve mostly been experiencing our typical swampy Virginia summer days, yesterday there was a crispness with just a hint of fall in the air. All of my favorite dye plants are starting to bloom, and I am excited to start filling my dyepots! I planted one little tansy plant in my garden at our old house last summer, but after doing a bit of research about it, chose to dig it all up last week. It’s not native and is quite invasive so I am not going to grow it at our new home and didn’t want to leave it behind to take over in our old garden.
Last night, after my girls had interrupted me half a dozen times before I had even turned the first page in our chapter of Anne, I suggested that maybe we should have a knit and chat night instead of a reading night. Of course, they were already knitting (and chatting). They agreed, so I set aside the book and pulled out the little cardigan I am knitting for Mabel. It’s really, really lovely having these sweet young knitting companions.
I don’t think I ever mentioned why we started reading Anne of Green Gables when we did. It was time to choose a new read aloud, and I pulled my tattered childhood copy of Island of the Blue Dolphins off the shelf. I read it multiple times as a child, and then again to Seth, Keats, and Gabe some years ago. If you know the book, you may recall that a tragedy occurs early on in the story. Well, that completely traumatized Larkspur, and we had to set it aside much to Beatrix’s dismay. Larkspur was so upset (she’s quite sensitive and I should have known better) that the only cure I could think of was Anne of Green Gables. Both girls know much of the story from watching the movie, but were more than happy to hear it read aloud. Our bedtime reading and knitting time has become one of my favorite parts of the day (and I think they feel the same way.)
I’m really loving these little girl days right now, full of tea parties, knitting, and plenty of conversation. During a recent tea party they shared with a friend, I overheard little snippets of their conversation and it was sprinkled with words such as, “splendid,” and “delightful.”
Once the girls are all tucked away at night (Jonny puts the little boys to bed), I can spend a few more minutes knitting, before getting into bed with my own book, currently A Gentleman in Moscow. I’m more than 3/4s through and I can’t really describe it (saying anything beyond I like or don’t like a book doesn’t come easily for me.) It’s a rich and gentle story and I am so glad to be reading it.
There is always something to worry about, but isn’t it better to focus on the delightful? I believe it’s rather splendid to do just that.
p.s. I will update our shop on Tuesday, August 1st at 2 p.m. ET! I’ll get a preview post up here on the blog sometime before that, probably Tuesday a.m.
p.p.s. I bought my t-shirt here, and here are Amazon Affiliate Links for the books and movies I mentioned in this post:
Treuzel says
Hi Ginny,
I’m not sure you’ll find this reaction since you’ve been writing more recent posts ?
Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I looked for Anne of Green Gables and found it in our library (in Dutch). I didn’t have a good book for the evening-reading for my girls of 11 and 10.
They love it !! So I wanted to thank you.
In return, I’d like to recommend a book that I took from the library for me that day and turned out a really beautiful one. I am confident you will like it too.
It’s from an american author named Lori (!) Benton and called ‘The Woods Edge’. Maybe you’ve been reading it already ? What’s also very nice about it is, that the story goes on in a second book 🙂 so it doesn’t have to end too quickly…
Thanks again for the sharing ! Trui
Marianne says
Hello Ginny,
I really love reading your blog. Enjoying every bit of it.
You have a beautifull family.
And I love your handdying yarn and knittings.
Best wishes from the Netherlands,
Marianne
Layne Costello says
Ginny, it is always a ‘delightful’ surprise when I open my email and see you have posted. Yours is the only blog I subscribe to and I want you to know how much I enjoy reading it. I have fallen in love with your family and wish God’s almighty blessings on each and every one of you. Have a glorious day!
Jennifer says
Maybe you could put your tansy in pots, so it doesn’t take over.
Corrie says
I love the new look of your blog
Bev says
So happy to read the words “a rich and gently story” about Gentleman in Moscow which my book group will be reading later this year. This month’s selection is The Underground Railroad and it is anything but rich and gentle.
Lauren says
I feel for Larkspur! I remember reading Island of the Blue Dolphins, and although I finished it, I found it upsetting and unsettling. I haven’t re-read it since! Anne, on the other hand, is one of my absolute favorites.
Nancy Mosley says
Great idea to have a knit and chat night. That’s convicting, when my kids come and I’m in the middle of something – it’s tempting to just let them see they’ve interrupted me versus taking hold of that moment when they are ready to communicate. Thanks for being open and sharing that! You never know just how another mom needs to hear a simple comment. 🙂
Emily Taylor says
My Anne book is the same as yours! And I also have the same collection of the live action. I compare every theatrical remake to that first one (and find the first to be the closest, truest to the book series).
It’s funny… this week my Mom and I had a day dedicated to just knitting and we were watching Anne. It’s timeless.
Becky Barry says
I love this tale of your life. I wish my grand daughters would knit with me. Neither has an interest. The socks are beautiful and the little sweater is a delight. I was wondering about the pattern. Is it available?
I’m hoping your house stress goes away soon. You seem to be on a healthy path of late and you look well. I hope you won’t let that darn old stress take you down.
Can’t wait to see your shop update.
karen says
sending you prayers that your stresses ease up and that you are a one house owner soon.
Eileen says
Selling a home can be VERY stressful! My family always and still do, bury a St. Joseph statue, (small one) in the front yard of home that is being sold. This is done for a fast , honest sale for all parties involved in sale, worked every time too!
Love the girls tea party!
Cheryl says
We are in the middle of house-selling as well. I hate it so much so I’m trying not to think about it much. I hate it not because I miss our old house (I’m over it and LOVE where we are) but because the old house is really lovely but it feels like the buyers are so picky. You wouldn’t believe the things we are having to “fix.” Just. Keep. Swimming. And–“A Gentleman in Moscow” is the first book in ages that, on finishing, I immediately turned back to page one and began again. It is just the loveliest, most gorgeous and loving book. Enjoy!
clémence says
Oh I hope I can live little knitting nights with my daughters one day… I love how you tell them, I feel like a little mouse in your cozy home!
Jess says
Island of the Blue Dolphins and Anne of Green Gables are probably my two most memorable and favorite childhood reads!
Kay says
I haven’t thought about Island of the Blue Dolphins in years! I think it took me a decade to figure out what a “devilfish” was. I’m sorry Larkspur was troubled by it, but Anne of Green Gables is a good balm!
Karen says
I loved Island of the Blue Dolphins growing up!!
Elizabeth says
I can imagine how stressful house-selling is…. Lord have mercy! It is wise to keep your mind occupied on other things, I find it helps a lot to do so. When my Husband and I were dating, we being near or in our middle-years, my then boyfriend was in that stressful time of trying to sell his house (the commute when he changed jobs was killing him). I emailed him this set of prayers to an early Martyr Saint named Menas (me-nah-as) and when he came to visit me, just weeks later, he got 2 offers… here’s the set of prayers, St Menas is a wonderful Saint and I will ask his prayers for you in this!!! http://dialogues.stjohndfw.info/2010/03/the-akathist-of-the-holy-martyr-menas-the-wonderworker/ (ps the translation is at times a bit rough hewn but the Lord does not mind, and St Menas has helped me so much!) … take heart, the Lord is with you in this! He’s got this.
Laura says
Such a beautiful reminder to focus on the lovely rather than the stressful….I so often find myself fixated on what is a stress for myself or my family. Thank you for sharing! And as always, the pictures are beautiful!
Karen says
I remember Island of the Blue Dolphins being sad and lonely, although I read it in jr. high. The tansy is lovely. I once read it is very toxic to cattle, so although I don’t have any cattle (!) I have never thought of planting it. It is nice for pictures, at least.
Kate says
My 11 year old daughter is so sensitive to anything happening with animals that we have to be careful about what to read or watch. People she’s less worried about but animals! Even the first two chapters of Black Beauty were a huge stressor and we had to put it aside.
Leanne says
The new blog layout is beautiful! I only have boys and none are interested in knitting, but my son’s girlfriend has been asking me to teach her to knit. She is hooked and I’m loving having her as a knitting buddy.
Christine says
That’s so sweet!